Chapter 152: Chapter 151: Meridian Nourishing
The night was as thick and dark as spilled ink. A cool river of moonlight poured down, and as the earth fell silent, the alluring fragrance of night-blooming jasmine drifted from the tall trees.
A cool, quiet evening breeze blew, slowly winding its way through the dense forest.
Luu Fangliang spat out a mouthful of blood and sighed. "Look... Looking at the state of you, can you still hold on?"
At that moment, Wen Qingye was leaning against an old tree, his entire body dyed red with blood. Even the soil beneath his robes had turned crimson. His face was as pale as paper, utterly drained of color.
Wen Qingye slowly extended his hand, took out the Yangchun Wooden Box, and clutched it tightly. Shaking his head with a smile, he said, "I... I won’t die."
Wen Qingye knew that as long as he had a single breath left, he would absolutely survive by relying on his Longevity Technique.
Luu Fangliang couldn’t help but burst out laughing at his words. The laughter aggravated his internal injuries, sending him into a fit of violent coughing.
"HAHAHA—COUGH, COUGH—it’s good that you’re not dying. That’s good."
After a long moment, Luu Fangliang gazed quietly at the moonlight and said, "Yux Yang is dead, which fulfills one of my greatest wishes. Next, I must go to the Divine Wind Country to kill the second person on my list."
Wen Qingye said nothing, just turned his eyes to Luu Fangliang.
Luu Fangliang’s tone was calm as he explained, "My Luu Family is a Military Marquis Family, loyal to the Celestial Martial Country for generations. Thirteen years ago, during the war between the Celestial Martial Country and the Divine Wind Country, my father died a tragic death at the hands of Yux Yang and another marquis from the Divine Wind Country. Yux Yang has been lying low in Qiyang City all these years, which is the very reason I came to study at Qig Mountain Academy."
A flash of killing intent appeared in Luu Fangliang’s cold eyes. "All these years, I’ve forgotten everything but the need for vengeance. Now Yux Yang is dead, but there’s still one more. Even if I have to track him to the ends of the earth, I will avenge my father."
"Your obsession runs too deep," Wen Qingye said slowly.
"Perhaps. But it’s not wrong. Whether the obsession is deep or shallow, I cannot live under the same sky as my father’s killer."
Wen Qingye fell silent.
"I have wine. The good stuff, Huadiao," Luu Fangliang said suddenly, pulling a wineskin from his waist. "But your wounds..."
Wen Qingye took the wineskin and laughed heartily. Without a shred of concern, he tipped it back and took a long drink.
"Wounds heal faster with wine."
"Well said!"
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"HAHAHA! Give me a drink!"
They passed the skin back and forth, drinking without any regard for their injuries. In the silent, empty night, the wine warmed their spirits, and their hearty laughter echoed through the trees.
Singing to the clear breeze and bright moon, they drank, growing pleasantly drunk and carefree.
...
「One day later, outside Qiyang City.」
Wen Qingye had changed into fresh white robes. Though his face was still pale, he could now walk without difficulty.
Luu Fangliang glanced at Wen Qingye and said coolly, "Your injuries will take at least half a year to heal, possibly longer. Take care of yourself. And by the way, be careful of Shen Yanxing. He’s not as simple as he looks."
Luu Fangliang knew about the agreement between Wen Qingye and Shen Yanxing, so he couldn’t help but offer a warning.
"I know. It’s a long road to the Divine Wind Country. I wish you a safe journey!"
Wen Qingye knew that some people had their own unwavering convictions, just as he himself had to obtain the Innate Grass, even if it meant stealing it.
The two nodded at each other, then turned and walked away in opposite directions.
One walked toward Qig Mountain Academy, the other toward the Divine Wind Country.
Who knew when they would see each other again after this parting? And when they did, what kind of men would they have become? What would their stations in life be?
The news of Wen Qingye and Luu Fangliang raising hell at the Divine Wind Auction House spread like wildfire, quickly radiating out to the surrounding regions. For a time, all of Qiyang City was caught in the ensuing storm.
The two youths—one who wielded a spear, the other a sword—were seared into everyone’s memory, yet it was as if they had both vanished from the face of the earth.
Those who witnessed the brutal battle would never forget it; the scene was etched deeply into their memories. Even those who merely heard the stories were shaken to the core.
The most vivid impression was left by the sword-wielding youth. Drenched in blood, his wounds torn open to reveal stark white bone, he had remained standing proudly, sword in hand. He had forced a Secret Skill, spraying his own blood, to furiously cut down Yux Yang.
And for that very reason, everyone assumed Wen Qingye had died from his grievous wounds.
The people of the Celestial Martial Country were ecstatic, with some even buying strings of firecrackers to set off at their doors in celebration.
But some knew this was far from over. The Divine Wind Auction House would not let Luu Fangliang off so easily. However, by the time they managed to identify him, Luu Fangliang had already left the Celestial Martial Country.
「Three days later.」
Wen Qingye sat on a rock beside his pavilion, a bitter smile on his face as he examined his wounds.
The wounds should have been treatable, but because he had forced himself to use the Azure Heaven Sword, his meridians had ruptured. Now, it would be impossible for his injuries to heal anytime soon.
Wen Qingye’s gaze fell to the Yangchun Wooden Box in his hand, and a smile touched his lips. ’With this Innate Grass, I’m confident I can heal the scar on Zhang Xiaoyun’s face. The only thing I’m missing is my own cultivation. Once my cultivation is high enough, I can use the Secret Technique to merge the Phoenix’s remnant soul with hers.’
That afternoon, an old woman came to Wen Qingye’s pavilion. Her back was hunched and her eyes were lined with the deep wrinkles of age, yet they shone with a remarkably sharp light.
Wen Qingye looked at the old woman in confusion and raised an eyebrow. ’This woman is no simple character.’
The old woman smiled and said, "I am Lin Qiong, the new Steward of the Sacrificial Hall. I’ve come to deliver your cultivation resources."
The old woman took out a pouch and handed it to Wen Qingye. He opened it to find a large quantity of Primordial Stones and pills. There were even three Sixth-Grade Pills and one Seventh-Grade Pill—a Meridian Nourishing Pill.
"This is...?"
"Vice Director Nie Qinglan asked me to give this to you personally. Of course, the others may have received something as well."
Lin Qiong’s words were vague. ’The others may have received something,’ Wen Qingye thought, ’but it would have been the standard issue, nowhere near this much.’
Lin Qiong’s eyes narrowed into slits as she smiled. "Work hard, young man. Qig Mountain Academy is counting on your generation to bring it glory this year."
Lin Qiong pointed to the pouch in Wen Qingye’s hand. "I see you’re injured. That Meridian Nourishing Pill is perfect for healing your wounds."
Without waiting for Wen Qingye to respond, Lin Qiong stood up and left, not bothering to ask how he had gotten injured.
Wen Qingye watched her retreating figure, a strange feeling in his heart. He frowned. ’Even though that old woman did her best to hide it, I could still sense her power. It’s even greater than Vice Director Nie Qinglan’s, yet she’s just a Steward? That’s unbelievable.’
He had a feeling that there was much more to Lin Qiong than met the eye.
Wen Qingye put away the pills and Primordial Stones and went into his room. He needed these pills to unblock and nourish his meridians. The Meridian Nourishing Pill in particular was perfect, as it could not only nourish and expand his meridians but also repair them.
Wen Qingye sat down and consumed the Meridian Nourishing Pill.
